San Joaquin County Biographies
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
FRANK A. GUERNSEY.
A leader in the financial circles of Central California, Frank A.
Guernsey, the president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Stockton, occupies
a post of high responsibility in directing the affairs of this notable financial
institution, recognized as one of the strong and reliable banks of the state,
since its establishment more than forty years ago, Mr. Guernsey's father being
one of the founders.
A descendant of two substantial old New England families, Frank A.
Guernsey was born at Stockton on October 17, 1879, the son of Darius A and
Nellie (Hatch) Guernsey, the former born in the picturesque town of Lancaster,
N. H., on the Connecticut River, while Mrs. Guernsey was a native of the state
of Maine. Darius A. Guernsey located in San Joaquin County in the early '70s,
and for a while he was a clerk in Stockwell's store at Stockton. He then went to
work on the Gardenhire ranch, and he stated at that time that some day he would
be the owner of this property, which prediction was fulfilled when, in later
years, he was able to purchase this fine ranch of 1100 acres; he also owned
several other ranches and became one of the large landowners of the county. He
was prominent in the business life of Stockton, being one of the founders of the
Guernsey and Allen Book and Stationery store. Later he started a piano business
in Stockton, selling pianos to the farmers throughout the county. One or two
pianos would be loaded on a wagon and they would start out and drive until these
were sold, frequently returning to Stockton with a string of horses which they
had taken in payment for the pianos. On October 1, 1888, in partnership with P.
B. Fraser and D. S. Rosenbaum, Mr. Guernsey established the Farmers and
Merchants Bank of Stockton, and it is interesting to note that these three men
held successively the office of president of the bank.
Mr. and Mrs. Darius A. Guernsey were the parents of three children:
Frank A. Guernsey, whose name heads this sketch, Mrs. Pliny E. Holt and Mrs.
Harriet Du Bois. Mr. Guernsey attended the public schools, graduating from the
Stockton high school in 1900. His first business venture was a clerkship in a
clothing store at a very small salary. During the Pan-American Exposition held
in Buffalo, N. Y., he was sent as a representative from San Joaquin County in
charge of their exhibit, where he remained a year, and on returning to Stockton
he entered into partnership with E. C. Dickinson under the firm name of
Dickinson and Guernsey and established a grain business. At the end of a year
Mr. Guernsey disposed of his interest and became the secretary of the Farmers
Union & Milling Company, continuing until 1907, when he entered the grain
business for himself.
On January 1, 1916, Mr. Guernsey was elected president of the Farmers
and Merchants Bank, and since assuming the duties of this office he has shown
unusual wisdom, progressiveness and capability in guiding the affairs of this
powerful banking institution. The Farmers and Merchants Bank owns its handsome
nine-story banking and office building, erected in 1917, and representing an
investment of nearly half a million dollars. It stands in the heart of the
business district of Stockton, towering like a beautiful monument in tribute to
the officers, directors and stockholders, attesting the confidence these men
have in the present and future of this city of opportunities. The bank occupies
the entire lower floor of the building and it is finished in a material called
"wood marble"�blocks of wood made to represent marble. This was after Mr.
Guernsey's own idea, to get away from the stereotyped banking institutions of
stucco, gold and silver ornaments, etc. The bank is equipped with a combination
cooling and heating apparatus; in the summer this reduces the temperature and in
the winter the same apparatus is used for heating. On September 30, 1919, the
combined capital stock was $640,000, undivided profits, $58,883 44, deposits,
$5,109,119.33. The officers of the bank are as follows: President, Frank A.
Guernsey; vice-president and cashier, Will E. Morris; directors, E. F. Davis,
Hillard E. Welch, George Finkbohner, Dan N. Gilmore, S. B. Coates, Frank Cox,
John M. Perry. The bank maintains a branch at Oakdale with E. D. Heron as
manager.
When he became president of the bank, Mr. Guernsey, who was in the grain
business at the time, incorporated his interests as the Frank A. Guernsey Grain
Company, with the following officers, J. W. Schuler, president; P. J. O'Connell,
vice-president; H. J. Mann, secretary, but he still retains a large block of
stock in this corporation.
Mr. Guernsey's marriage united him with Miss Wagner, a native of Oregon,
and they are the parents of two sons, D. Albert and Frank C. Mr. Guernsey's
especial hobby is his finely developed ranch of 400 acres on Rough and Ready
Island; this he is developing into one of the finest dairy and orchard
properties in the county. He has 100 acres of Bartlett pears, and he is building
up a herd of fine, blooded stock for his modern dairy. On this property he has
erected a beautiful home, which with the surrounding ranch developments, makes
this one of the show places of the county. Mr. Guernsey is a member of Lodge No.
218, B. P. O. E., of Stockton.
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co.,
1923
p 996
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.